Bedroom

My bedroom. Eeyore seems happier here than in the old place. As do I.

Kitchen

The kitchen. Well, the half of it.

Lounge 2

The'study' area of the lounge. Yes, those are all my books.

Lounge 1

The lounge, taken from the top of the stairs. The 'study' area is behind me; the kitchen and rest of the house off to the right.

'Erb garden

The 'erb garden.

Garden, before

The garden before I moved in. The bench belonged to the original owner, alas.

Back Garden

View of the back garden from the gate. Unfortunately, the neighbour's triffid has destryoed my fence. The lavender was all the way along the border on the right.

A bit on the side

The front

My front door is hidden behind the bush. None of the garages are mine - my car is on the drive to right.

Reasons why I moved...

£150 per year saved on car insurance.

This is War, Peacock!

Operation Regain Garden began today with considerable success.

My Dad conducted hedge trimming ops around the bushes in the front garden, whilst my Mum established a beach head in the new herb garden.

I conducted a take-no-prisoners war on the lavender in the back garden that was smoothering almost everything else in sight.

Cfer took up position in an observation point in a sunny spot to ensure nothing snuck up on us. I suspect he was asleep at one point, however.

Reasons why I moved...

The last two days I have gone home for lunch. So instead of a sandwich et al from the shop, I can knock up something a little more healthy, and cheaper.

Reasons why I moved...

The alarm goes off at 7am instead of 6am.

Quote of the Day

If we lose now, it's because we deserve to have our asses kicked

Poor engineering

"When we started in 1909 the Chief Engineer was almost always the Chief Test Pilot as well. That had the fortunate result of eliminating poor engineering early in aviation."

-- Igor Sikorsky

I laughed so much when I saw this quote. Igor Sikorsky was the father of the helicopter, back in the pioneering days of flight where the approach to design was "try it and see".

Alas, the excitement and adventure is not as high, but at least we have safer aircraft for it. Thanks, mostly, to the work of those early men and their flying machines.

Engineer's Corner

We make more fuss of ballads than of blueprints
That's why so many poets end up rich
While engineers scrape by in cheerless garrets
Who needs a bridge or dam? Who needs a ditch?
Whereas the person who can write a sonnet
Has got it made. It's always been the way.
For everybody knows that we need poems
And everybody reads them every day.

-- Wendy Cope

As Good As I Once Was

Currently at the top of the US Country chart, I've caught this on the radio a couple of times lately. I find the lyrics amusing, but with a melancholy edge.


As Good As I Once Was
Keith Toby

She said, "I've seen you in here before"
I said, "I've been here a time or two"
She said, "Hello, my name is Bobby Jo
Meet my twin sister Betty Lou
And we're both feeling kinda wild tonight
And you're the only cowboy in this place
And if you're up for a rodeo
We'll put a big Texas smile on your face"
I said, "Girls

I ain't as good as I once was
I got a few years on me now
But there was a time, back in my prime
When I could really lay it down
And if you need some love tonight
Then I might have just enough
I ain't as good as I once was
But I'm as good once as I ever was"

I still hang out with my best friend Dave
I've known him since we were kids at school
Last night he had a shot, got in a tight spot
Hustlin' a game of pool with a couple of redneck boys
One great big bad biker man
I heard David yell across the room
"Hey buddy, how about a helping hand"
I said, "Dave

I ain't as good as I once was
My how the years have flown
But there was a time, back in my prime
When I could really hold my own
But if you wanna fight tonight
Guess those boys don't look all that tough
I ain't as good as I once was
But I'm as good once as I ever was"

I used to be hell on wheels
Back when I was a younger man
Now my body says, "You can't do this boy"
But my pride says, "Oh yes you can"

I ain't as good as I once was
That's just the cold hard truth
I still throw a few back, talk a little smack
When I'm feelin' bulletproof
So don't double dog dare me now
'Cause I'd have to call your bluff